Buying the right shampoo is easy. It’s when you take it home and find that what you thought it would do it doesn’t that makes it frustrating! Ph balance again is important but no shampoo is going to “fix” your hair. Read the label before you buy, is it for your hair type? When you do use shampoo use the amount that is right for your length. If you have really long hair I suggest using twice as much than you would for shoulder length hair (about a toonie for shoulder length).

When shampooing always massage into your scalp with your fingers, not nails and let the shampoo run through the rest of your hair while you are rinsing. This will prevent your hair from becoming to dry. Do not shampoo your hair everyday, your hair has natural occurring oils that are good it. I realize hair that is thin and fine needs to be washed more often, but this is the worst thing for this kind of hair. If you can, on the second day try to put your hair up instead of washing it. If you do not use too many styling products on day one of shampooing, your hair will not look as oily on day two. This Paul Mitchell Clarify product is a good choice to start the routine of washing every two days

Paul Mitchell’s Clarify Shampoo

Try to stay away from products that are a shampoo and conditioner in one. Do you notice that some people can go days without washing their hair and it still looks healthy and shiny? Well I know it is a little depressing for those who cannot, but after you shampoo every second day instead of everyday your hair will start to be “okay” with this. The first little while your hair may still look a little oily at the roots but this starts to diminish. Also to avoid excess damage make sure you use your styling tools, ie: hair straightener, curling irons and blow dryers at the correct setting for your hair. Too hot, more damage on thinner, finer hair types.

Some of the tips I will give you will be from my own personal experience, being that of fine thin hair, the rest is research. I have done so many different things with conditioner, using it, going without it, keeping it in and so on. Here are some recommendations for fine thin hair. Conditioning is not always wise. Never deep condition your hair on a night where you might have to go out. Your hair will be limp, have no body and you certainly will not be able to “manage” it! Do this maybe once every 2 weeks. Use the deep conditioner you have chosen after you get out of the shower. You want to leave this in for awhile. Towel dry your hair, put about a toonie size amount in the palm of your hand, rub all over and then comb through.

Put some sort of plastic bag around your head and blow dry on hot for about 5 to 10 minutes.

This may be hard to do on your own if you don’t like holding your arms up or are impatient! Rinse out and don’t bother styling it, it will have no life until tomorrow. When you are using a rinse out conditioner, use only a bit, put it on the ends of your hair, finger comb it through, then whatever is left over quickly run through your hair and rinse out right away.

Some people I know with thin fine hair don’t even bother with conditioner because of how limp they find their hair afterwards. The key to finding a good conditioner for this type of hair is: make sure it is a light weight one and use something that has “For Fine Limp Hair” in the title. If you go to the stylist regularly for perms ask her to spray in a light stay in conditioner before wrapping each curl, protects our hair type a little better.

Try not to use store bought products for reasons I am sure I have mentioned many times. Try to stay in your ph balance which is approx 5.5. Some products will tell you the ph balance, others will not. The ones that don’t make me nervous and I chose to stay away from them! Never use hair straighteners on the highest temperature, this will dry your hair out. Always remember to set at the medium setting, and keep conditioning your hair in the ways I have mentioned.

If your hair isn’t in this category then thank your lucky stars!

For thicker hair rinse out conditioners can be combed through the hair while in the shower, this helps in removing tangles for the “later” brushing. Deep conditioners can be used once a week if you are a person who always tends to blow dry and style, especially with curling irons or a flat iron. If you are only a blow dryer or styler once in a while then deep conditioning packs can be used on a more bi-weekly basis. Stay in conditioners are good to use for adding that extra healthy look to your hair after it has been dried and styled as well, for both thin or thick hair. Just use different amounts, less for thin hair, more for thick hair.